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 | Well balanced diet containing protein, fat, carbohydrate, minerals and vitamins |
| Bread and cereals give energy, vitamins, minerals and fibre |
| Meat, eggs (properly cooked), beans, peas and lentils give protein and minerals |
| Milk and dairy products give protein, vitamins and calcium. All products should be pasteurised. No soft or blue veined cheeses. |
| Fresh fruit, vegetables and well washed green salads are good sources of minerals and vitamins and you should aim for 5 portions a day |
| Too much vitamin A can be toxic so no cod liver oil and similar products should be taken. Vitamin A accumulates in liver so avoid liver and liver products e.g. pate. After 12 weeks occasional liver is OK |
| Even though eating oily fish has a number of benefits, there are limits to the amount we should eat.
Girls and women who might have a baby one day shouldn’t eat more than two portions of oily fish a week. A portion is 140g. In general, this advice also applies to women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. |
| Mercury in fish such as tuna and swordfish may cause problems |
| Folic acid (400 mcg) should be taken before conception and for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy as it reduces the incidence of problems like spina bifida. It can be taken for longer without harm. Folic acid with other vitamins can be found in green leafy vegetables, fruit, nuts, bread and rice |
| Daily iron is required for red blood cell formation and is found in meat, fish, poultry, cereal, fruit and vegetables. Take care with supplements not to take too much iron |
There is further information about pregnancy on the site: Click here
It has been known for some time that premature birth and low birth weight have an effect on the incidence of various diseases suffered in later life including heart disease. Dieting during pregnancy has now been shown to have a similar detrimental effect.
The worst combination being the mother dieting during pregnancy then overfeeding the baby.
In morning sickness there is health
Source: Daily Telegraph Date: 04/02/2004
Around two thirds of women suffer from morning sickness, but it is often a sign that all is well. The sickness causes an aversion to certain foods, including fish, eggs and coffee, which might be harmful to the baby. In evolutionary terms, morning sickness is useful because it alerts a woman to the fact that she is pregnant. It is thought to be a sign of a healthy pregnancy. Research at Cornell University in America in 2000 revealed that women who had morning sickness were significantly less likely to miscarry than those who simply suffered from nausea. The article includes tips for pregnant women who are having a hard time with morning sickness.
Ginger proved to beat morning sickness
Source: Daily Mail Date: 27/04/2004
New research has found that half a teaspoon of ginger a day early in pregnancy can prevent morning sickness. Researchers in Australia tested ginger against vitamin B6 as a cure for morning sickness and found it just as effective in relieving the nausea, vomiting and dry retching which affects up to 75 per cent of pregnant women, mostly in the first three months of their pregnancy.
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The Minster Practice, Lichfield
